A man who allegedly tried to kill his ex-wife by pouring acid over her while she was at her place of work will have his mental health evaluated.

Prosecutors said the 44-year-old unemployed Emirati walked into his ex-wife’s office in Nad Al Sheba Health Centre in September 2015 and doused her with acid which he had concealed in a shampoo bottle.

The woman screamed for help but her ex-husband locked the door before security guards could reach them.

Prosecutors told Dubai Criminal Court last May that the defendant intended to kill the woman who suffered second and third degree burns on 80 per cent second of her body.

An Egyptian security guard told prosecutors the man burned his own hands during the acid attack.

“When I managed to get into the office, she was in a very bad condition and the defendant was applying some yogurt on his hands after he accidentally burned them with the acid,” said the guard, 32, who called police.

The woman and defendant were rushed to hospital where, according to a police lieutenant, witnesses overheard the man saying he wished he had slaughtered her.

“when asked why, he said he was free to do what he wanted,” the 25-year old officer said.

Dubai Police took the man into custody shortly after the incident and referred the woman and her attacker to hospital.

The victim had to undergo several reconstructive surgeries for her face, head, neck, and legs.

In court on Sunday, the man was denied a charge of premeditated murder saying he never meant to kill her.

“I am sorry, what I did was wrong and I should not have done it but I did not have any intention to kill her,” he said.

The couple were married for 15 years and share five children.

“I have been in detention for nearly two years and I beg you to let me you on bail. I promise I will never go near her or near my children except through legal channels,” the defendant told the court.

Judge Mohammed Jamal refused the man’s request for bail and ordered the defendant undergo mental assessment after the accused’s lawyer argued he suffers from mental problems.